ABSTRACT
Joshi, N.; Arya, P.C., and Saulnier-Talbot, E., 0000. Benthic foraminifera as useful bioindicators of heavy metal and organic enrichment in northern temperate coastal zones: A comprehensive review.
Benthic foraminifera are known to respond to naturally occurring and anthropogenically induced stresses. A considerable body of literature exists describing the effects that contamination by heavy metal and organic enrichment has on these organisms in coastal environments. This review of the literature on the subject since 1980 shows that these types of contamination are reflected through changes in the physiology, abundance, and community structure of foraminifera, confirming them as useful bioindicators of environmental quality in the geographical context of the north temperate zone. Based on this analysis of the literature, results show that metal enrichment leads to deformations and altered foraminiferal test chemistry, whereas organic enrichment tends to mostly affect foraminiferal abundance and community structure, with little evidence for morphological effects. Additionally, anthropogenic activities can degrade and even destroy the ecological niches occupied by foraminifera, as evidenced by the disappearance of symbiont-bearing taxa with increasing organic contamination. This review highlights the usefulness of the ecological responses of foraminifera in assessing the current and long-term state of ecosystems in temperate benthic coastal environments, especially in the context of increased heavy metal and organic contamination by anthropogenic activities.
